Accompaniment in sessions at the Donegal Fiddle Festival
Accompaniment in sessions at the Donegal Fiddle Festival
I'm heading up to Glencolumbcille for the Fiddle festival, never been before, I'm wondering what's the story with the sessions. Is it a strictly unnaccompanied fiddle thing or are the sessions open to accompaniment?
Don't get me wrong, I understand it's a fiddle festival, I'm going up to do fiddle classes and I love listening to a good fiddles-only session, but I've not been playing fiddle that long so don't think I'd be able to sit in with my fiddle too much. Guitar is my main instrument and I'd hate to be up there and not get a few sessions in.
So, please anyone whose been before please let me know whether I'm likely to be welcomed with open arms or shunned for bringing a guitar along! Please note I'm not one of those idiots who insists on bashing out three chord tricks at every session they come across! I'll be very happy to sit and watch a great unnaccompanied fiddle session, but I'll be itching to accompany some good fiddlers.
Re: Accompaniment in sessions at the Donegal Fiddle Festival
Dave - in answer to your ORIGINAL question, I'm a guitarist and around 1991or so I attended the festival for a couple of days in the company of my then girlfriend (flute), her brother (pipes) and his girlfriend (banjo and mandolin). In general we were treated as a different species and while nothing was "said" we never felt welcome among the fiddlers.
But things MAY have changed since then. My then girlfriend and her brother are members of a rather famous Irish musical family and are respected musicians, so we weren't just blow-ins who couldn't play our instruments.
In general I think they just want fiddles - I remember one session where I counted 16 (SIXTEEN) fiddles, with some serious players involved.
Accompaniment in sessions at the Donegal Fiddle Festival
Accompaniment in sessions at the Donegal Fiddle Festival
I'm heading up to Glencolumbcille for the Fiddle festival, never been before, I'm wondering what's the story with the sessions. Is it a strictly unnaccompanied fiddle thing or are the sessions open to accompaniment?
Don't get me wrong, I understand it's a fiddle festival, I'm going up to do fiddle classes and I love listening to a good fiddles-only session, but I've not been playing fiddle that long so don't think I'd be able to sit in with my fiddle too much. Guitar is my main instrument and I'd hate to be up there and not get a few sessions in.
So, please anyone whose been before please let me know whether I'm likely to be welcomed with open arms or shunned for bringing a guitar along! Please note I'm not one of those idiots who insists on bashing out three chord tricks at every session they come across! I'll be very happy to sit and watch a great unnaccompanied fiddle session, but I'll be itching to accompany some good fiddlers.
Cheers
Dave
# Posted on July 23rd 2006 by The Tune Composer
Re: Accompaniment in sessions at the Donegal Fiddle Festival
Hi there Dave,
I haven't been to this festival before, so sorry I can't help ya, but can I whore you a bit for some more info, ldt?
I am coming home from Australia soon and need to change my flight anyway, so when is it on and is it a weekend thing or a week long thing?
Yours,
Smuit
# Posted on July 23rd 2006 by smuit
Re: Accompaniment in sessions at the Donegal Fiddle Festival
fiddle week is from 31st july til 4th august, but that night tends to go a bit, often til its light the next day.
Frisbee, there would be no problem accompanying fiddles. it will probably be nice to bring a bit of balance to all those fiddles.
# Posted on July 23rd 2006 by northernstyle
Re: Accompaniment in sessions at the Donegal Fiddle Festival
Is there a website for the Fiddle Festival in Glencolumbcille? I don't seem to be able to find out anything else about it.....
# Posted on July 23rd 2006 by Jay-eye
Re: Accompaniment in sessions at the Donegal Fiddle Festival
When you finish there, head down the road to The Ballyshannon Folk Festival - 4/5/6 Aug. See you in Diceys beer garden
# Posted on July 23rd 2006 by strayaway
Re: Accompaniment in sessions at the Donegal Fiddle Festival
Hey!!Im headin up 4 da fiddle festival 2!!Cyaz der!!
# Posted on July 23rd 2006 by xxecxx
Re: Accompaniment in sessions at the Donegal Fiddle Festival
Dave - in answer to your ORIGINAL question, I'm a guitarist and around 1991or so I attended the festival for a couple of days in the company of my then girlfriend (flute), her brother (pipes) and his girlfriend (banjo and mandolin). In general we were treated as a different species and while nothing was "said" we never felt welcome among the fiddlers.
But things MAY have changed since then. My then girlfriend and her brother are members of a rather famous Irish musical family and are respected musicians, so we weren't just blow-ins who couldn't play our instruments.
In general I think they just want fiddles - I remember one session where I counted 16 (SIXTEEN) fiddles, with some serious players involved.
# Posted on July 25th 2006 by lysaghtm